Tanzania Holidays
Tanzania
Holidays
The Great Migration, the Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro, Tarangire's elephants and Zanzibar's beaches — Tanzania is the greatest wildlife destination on earth
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Flight Time
8–9h from London (direct BA to Kilimanjaro, or via Amsterdam/Addis Ababa)
Best Time
June–October (dry season, Great Migration river crossings); January–February (calving season)
Country
Tanzania
Suppliers
our travel partners ·
Tanzania Holiday Guide
Tanzania is the greatest wildlife destination on earth — a country of 945,000 square kilometres in East Africa containing the Serengeti (the site of the Great Migration, the largest movement of land mammals on the planet), the Ngorongoro Crater (the world's largest intact volcanic caldera and the most densely populated wildlife area in Africa), Mount Kilimanjaro (Africa's highest peak at 5,895m and the world's highest free-standing mountain), Tarangire National Park (the best place in Africa to see elephants in large numbers), Lake Manyara (famous for its tree-climbing lions and vast flocks of flamingos) and Zanzibar (the spice island with white sand beaches and turquoise water that provides the perfect end to a safari).
The Great Migration is the defining wildlife spectacle of Tanzania — two million wildebeest, 500,000 zebra and 200,000 Thomson's gazelle move in a continuous circuit between the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya, following the rains and the fresh grass. The river crossings (July–October), when the herds plunge into the Mara River past waiting crocodiles, are the most dramatic wildlife event in the world. But the Serengeti is extraordinary at any time of year — the resident population of lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo and giraffe is one of the densest in Africa.
Tanzania is 8–9 hours from the UK (direct with British Airways or KLM/Ethiopian via Amsterdam or Addis Ababa to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam). The classic Tanzania itinerary combines a 5–7 day Northern Circuit safari (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara) with 4–7 days on Zanzibar.
Average Temperatures
Jan
28°C
Feb
29°C
Mar
27°C
Apr
25°C
May
24°C
Jun
23°C
Jul
23°C
Aug
24°C
Sep
26°C
Oct
27°C
Nov
26°C
Dec
27°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Tanzania
The migrations, craters, peaks, elephant herds, flamingos and beach finales that make Tanzania the greatest wildlife destination on earth.
The Great Migration — Nature's Greatest Spectacle
The Great Migration is the largest movement of land mammals on the planet — two million wildebeest, 500,000 zebra and 200,000 Thomson's gazelle moving in a continuous circuit between the Serengeti in Tanzania and the Masai Mara in Kenya, following the rains and the fresh grass. The river crossings (July–October), when the herds plunge into the Mara and Grumeti rivers past waiting crocodiles, are the most dramatic wildlife event in the world. The calving season (January–February) in the southern Serengeti, when 500,000 wildebeest calves are born in a three-week period, is equally extraordinary.
Ngorongoro Crater — The World's Greatest Wildlife Arena
The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest intact volcanic caldera — a 260 square kilometre bowl of grassland, forest and soda lake, 600m deep, containing an estimated 25,000 large animals including the highest density of lions in Africa, large herds of elephant and buffalo, black rhino (one of the few places in Tanzania where they can be reliably seen), hippos, hyenas and vast flocks of flamingos on Lake Magadi. The crater floor is a self-contained ecosystem; the animals rarely leave. A game drive in the crater is one of the most extraordinary wildlife experiences in the world.
Mount Kilimanjaro — The Roof of Africa
Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest peak (5,895m) and the world's highest free-standing mountain — a dormant stratovolcano rising from the savannah of northern Tanzania to a snow-capped summit that can be seen from 200km away. Kilimanjaro is one of the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on each continent) and is climbed by approximately 50,000 people each year. No technical climbing skills are required — the mountain is climbed on foot via one of seven routes. The most popular routes are the Machame Route (6–7 days) and the Marangu Route (5–6 days).
Tarangire National Park — Africa's Greatest Elephant Spectacle
Tarangire National Park is the best place in Africa to see elephants in large numbers — during the dry season (June–October), when the Tarangire River is one of the few water sources in the region, herds of up to 300 elephants gather along its banks. The park also has large populations of lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and wildebeest, and is famous for its ancient baobab trees — some over 1,000 years old. Tarangire is less visited than the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, making it one of the best places in Tanzania for a more intimate safari experience.
Lake Manyara — Tree-Climbing Lions and a Million Flamingos
Lake Manyara National Park is one of Tanzania's most beautiful and diverse parks — a narrow strip of forest, grassland and alkaline lake at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, famous for its tree-climbing lions (a unique behaviour seen in only a handful of places in Africa), vast flocks of flamingos on the lake (up to one million birds), large herds of elephant and buffalo, hippos in the lake shallows and an extraordinary diversity of birdlife (over 400 species). The park is compact and can be done as a half-day or full-day game drive.
Zanzibar — The Perfect Safari Beach Finale
Zanzibar is the perfect end to a Tanzania safari — a spice island of white sand beaches, turquoise water and the extraordinary Stone Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Arab, Persian, Indian and African architecture) in the Indian Ocean, 35km off the coast of mainland Tanzania. The north and northeast coasts (Nungwi, Kendwa, Matemwe) have the finest beaches; the east coast (Paje, Jambiani) is popular with kitesurfers. Stone Town's spice markets, the Freddie Mercury Museum and the Forodhani Gardens night food market are the cultural highlights.
Hot Air Balloon Safari — The Serengeti from Above
A hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti is one of the most extraordinary experiences in Africa — drifting silently over the plains at dawn, watching the wildlife below as the sun rises over the savannah. Flights last approximately one hour and are followed by a champagne bush breakfast. The balloon launches from several camps in the Serengeti; the Central Serengeti (near Seronera) and the Northern Serengeti (near the Mara River) are the most popular launch sites. Balloon safaris cost approximately USD $500–600 per person and must be booked in advance.
Maasai Culture — The Warriors of the East African Savannah
The Maasai are the most iconic people of East Africa — semi-nomadic pastoralists who have inhabited the savannahs of Tanzania and Kenya for centuries, maintaining their traditional way of life despite the pressures of modernisation. Maasai villages (bomas) near the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti offer cultural visits where visitors can learn about Maasai traditions, watch traditional dances, visit a family home and buy beadwork and jewellery directly from the craftspeople. The Maasai's distinctive red shukas (blankets), elaborate beadwork and tall, lean physique make them one of the most recognisable peoples in the world.
Explore Tanzania on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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